HSBC and Potential.com recently hosted a workshop at the Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC) FabLab as part of Tatawwar, which is a programme aimed at supporting the next generation of social innovators.
Since the launch of ‘Tatawwar: Building Tomorrow’s Minds’, some 4,650 students from over 1000 schools across Qatar and the rest of Middle East have registered in the programme.
The workshop in Qatar was attended by some 14 students from different schools across the country.
The workshops provide the 250 shortlisted projects with the tools to make their projects a reality. At the end of each workshop, a panel of judges across all the workshops will then select the top 20 to participate in the final round in Muscat, Oman, in April 2020, where they will develop their projects further with the aid of extensive coaching from industry leaders.
The top three winners’ prototypes will be showcased at the HSBC-sponsored UK Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020, and will also receive cash prizes of $5,000, $3,000 and $1,500 respectively.
‘Tatawwar: Building Tomorrow’s Minds’ offers a series of learning resources to support students as they develop their innovative ideas. It is an interactive online and face-to-face programme that brings together students aged 15 to 18, schools, parents and the business community to innovate for a sustainable future by addressing one of three United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals — climate action, human health and well-being and clean water and sanitation.
Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi, CEO, HSBC in Qatar, said, “Tatawwar encourages students to develop their future skills while raising awareness and understanding of how business can help address social and environment challenges. We are delighted with the response we have had from schools across Qatar and we look forward to seeing the winning projects in the final event in April.”
Shadi Banna, CEO, Potential.com said, “Through these hands-on workshops, we provide students with an optimal blended learning experience. Having learned and engaged through the Tatawwar.com online platform, they come prepared and able to do rapid prototyping in the span of just a few hours.”
Two of the Tatawwar previous winners have launched their crowdfunding campaigns on Zoomaal.com to kick start their projects. Samah Abdullah from Egypt and Zoya Naeem from the UAE have come up with innovative solutions to address the water scarcity challenge.